Spreading love, joy, peace, faith & unity

Archive for the ‘children’ Category

Beautiful Connections

Staying in contact
Oh, beautiful connections
Commonalities

Happy with Judy Parks

Yesterday we went
To see friends in Sheridan
Lovely connections

Today I texted
With Elaina and Katy
They’re headed for Disneyland

Staying connected
With the folks you love the most
Makes life worth living

Sue Woodruff and me

Make an appointment
To stay in touch with loved ones
Keep your friends close by

Our DollyWolly, DeDe

If family’s away
Like our daughter overseas
Use your computer

Use your telephone
Text your loved ones every day
Just stay connected

Our son, Ty, in California

Be eternally
Grateful for your kids who care
Enough to call you

Happily receive
Photos of their vacation
Wishing you were there

Me with Bob, my hubby for 62 years

Be eternally
Grateful for those close at hand
Such dear connections

Who have you texted?
Who have you prayed for today?
Stop and do it right away!

Sending love your way
Grateful for WordPress with you
Good friends far and near

Love,
JanBeek

Category:

blessings, children, Family, friendship, Haiku, happiness, Love, Poetry, relationships, Sharing

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Devoted

Happy September 1st to you!
The word for the month is Devoted.
The question for the month is,
“To what or to whom are you devoted?”

Some might answer,
“I am devoted to earning money”
while others might say,
“I’m devoted to spending money…
Put on my gravestone:
Being of sound mind, I spent it all!”

Some are devoted to coffee,
getting their daily dose at Starbucks,
while others are devoted to gardening
or to reading or to raising their families.

What’s your answer?

Some of the things
that capture our devotion
are worth the time and trouble.
Others are not.

“Ezra had devoted himself to
the study and observance of
the Law of the Lord,
and to teaching its decrees
and laws in Israel.”
Ezra 7:10

The word devotion means
“earnest affection for a person or cause.”
It’s a better word than commitment.
We can be committed to a cause
out of sheer duty;
but to be devoted
implies commitment plus affection.

September connotates “Back to School” for me.
As a retired educator, I never tire of teaching.
My children are grown and my grandchildren
are not close by, so my teaching audience has changed.
I am devoted to teaching the seniors in “The Manor.”
It is our local nursing home. The people there are delightful!

Because I am devoted to teaching,
I agree with the commentary I read recently
on the Ezra 7:10 scripture above:
“As our children head back to school,
it’s time for us to don our backpacks
and enroll in the Ezra School of Bible Study –
devoting ourselves to the study and observance
of God’s Word and to teaching it to others.”

The people that garner your devotion
and the causes to which you are devoted
help to define who you are.
The word for September is “Devoted.”
How do you define yours?

Love and Hugs to you from
JanBeek

Category:

Aging Gracefully, Bible Lessons, books, children, God, learning, Living in Christ's Family, Love, relationships, teaching

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Passionate About?

Today’s prompt asked about our passions.
What am I passionate about?
Children and animals…
How about you?

Daily writing prompt
What are you passionate about?
View all responses

As most of you know, I spent my career in education.
I taught all grades K-8
(except 3rd… don’t know why I skipped that one).
Children are my passion….
their education, their safety, their equal opportunities.
It breaks my heart when I see evidence of
neglect or abuse or (heaven forbid) sex trafficking.
Children are our most vulnerable humans
and they need our protection,
for they cannot protect themselves.

group of people taking photo
toddle wearing gray button collared shirt with curly hair
girls-children-kids-friends-50581.jpeg
boy wearing orange shirt blowing on dandelion
father and child s hands together

My passion for animals is especially poignant right now –
– especially after our horrific accident last week
when we lost our sweet puppy, Owen.
I still can’t stop crying. My heart aches.

He was such a little rascal,
but he wrapped himself around our hearts
and we miss his company
more than words can say.
I am passionate about having a pet.
Our house feels empty and vacuous without one.
Owen filled all the empty corners
of our hearts and our home.
He brought such joy.
How can we go on without a Boston Terrier
chewing on our rugs,
tugging on our heartstrings,
filling our days?

Rest in peace, sweet puppy.
You were an object of my affection,
the recipient of my passion.
Bob & I miss you so much!

My mom always quoted this saying:
“It is better to have loved and lost
than never to have loved at all.”

I don’t know its origin,
but I certainly believe it.

sensual black man covering face
Photo by Bruno Felix on Pexels.com

What are you passionate about?

Hugs to you,
JanBeek

Category:

Animals, children, Heartache, Love, pets, relationships

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Keep Hope Alive

If you have followed my blog in the past, you know I used to post sermon notes every Sunday afternoon. I’ve not done that for a while. Today I decided, on a snowy May 23rd in SW Montana, that I have nothing better to do than to share with you my notes from last Sunday’s sermon… because with winter weather in late May, I need encouragement to “Keep Hope Alive”… and I thought maybe you could use a little encouragement, too. So here’s what Rev. Mary Grace Reynolds preached last Sunday (as filtered through my ears to my brain to you)…

Sunday’s sermon on hope was inspired (not by Jeremiah 29:11 which is one of my favorite scriptures) but by Romans 8:22-27.

Romans 8:22-27
New International Version

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

(Bold print added by me)

Paul wrote this a couple of decades
After Christ descended and ascended.
Paul addressed the anxiety of
Those who questioned Christ’s return.

We who have the First Fruits of the Spirit
Are saved by the HOPE of what we do not see.
God, who searches our hearts, knows…
God knows our every mood and emotion.

And with that scripture in mind, Mary Grace shared her sermon. Here are my notes:

KEEP HOPE ALIVE

Calvin Coolidge’s young son
Passed away because of a toe infection.
It was over 100 years ago –
Before the discovery of penicillin.

Today we have the promise of
A new vaccine to retrain cells
Of a brain tumor to attack the tumor.
The narrative of lives is being changed.

People who walked with Jesus
Had interpreted Him as saying,
“I’ll be right back…”
But Jesus was taking too long!

Paul wrote to tell the early Christians,
Who had been given the Holy Spirit,
To be patient … and keep HOPE alive.
Maybe Hope isn’t a whisper, but a shout!

Hope is more active than faith.
It is a fighter and a screamer.
The world is groaning, crying out in pain,
And people who’ve been stepped on must also.

Don’t accept the pain life throws at you.
Cry out in pain. Bark as a threatened dog.
Hope is harder to lose than faith
Because it is louder… and persistent.

We hope for things beyond our reality.
Hope gives us the strength to wait –
To be cheerleaders who, with discipline,
Keep HOPE (through the Holy Spirit) alive.

Hope feels like pain, burns like passion
When we see all the world’s injustices.
But HOPE is alive and will not give up.
Keep it alive in you. Expect its miracles!

I love this meme!

Keep hope alive!
If you have time, go to YouTube
and select one of the renditions of
“It Took a Miracle”…
and absorb those words.
So profound!
(For whatever reason,
I couldn’t imbed that song here.)
I love it…

moon in wonderful blue sky in evening
It Took a Miracle

To hang on to HOPE in a fallen world may take a miracle…
But that miracle is yours for the taking.
Take HOPE
And keep it alive!
Amen?

That’s my granddaughter, Hope, with me…
and her daughter, Sienna,
my great-granddaughter, who will be 5 next month,
and our last Boston Terrier, TazE.
HOPE is alive and well in our family.
How about yours?

Love to you,
JanBeek

Category:

Bible Lessons, children, Faith, Family, God, Living in Christ's Family, Living in Harmony, Love, music, optimism, pets, relationships

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A Champion Still!

This is Hillsdale High School’s winning wrestling team back in the 1970’s.
Bob was the wrestling coach. He also taught in the classroom
(safety education and behind the wheel driver’s education).
Matt Martinelli has ahold of Bob’s right leg.
And our son, Ty, is down there looking up proudly at his dad.
Ty just had his 59th birthday… and Matt is now in his 70s!
Time flies, doesn’t it?

Here’s another of Bob”s former wrestlers from back in the ’70s.
Peter is another who keeps in touch
and lets Bob know that he made a difference in his life.
What a joy it is to maintain those contacts!

Here’s our son, Ty:

Life is worth celebrating!
Even though Matt is in CA (and so is Ty),
and Peter in in Arizona,
we are blessed to stay in touch with them.
They let Bob know that Dad/CoachBeek
is a champion still!
He made a difference in their lives.

Galatians 6:9

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

Making a difference can sometimes be challenging, and it’s easy to grow weary. However, this verse reminds us to persevere in doing good. Even if we don’t see immediate results, God promises that in due time, we will reap the rewards of our efforts. Therefore, we are encouraged to press on and not lose heart in our pursuit of making a difference.

1958

Bob feels badly that he doesn’t have
the strength and stamina that he once had,
but hey… don’t we all have to accept that?
Our bodies change as we age, right?
Bob’s with his brother, Bill, there…
Looking mighty fit, wouldn’t you say?
Both of them are blessed
to be alive and functioning
as “Champions Still” in their
mid-to-late 80’s!!
Not everyone has that privilege, right?

Blessed to be alive!
Blessed to have one another.
Blessed to continue to do good.
Blessed to be a champion still!!

Who’s a “Champion Still” in your life?

Sending love your way,
JanBeek

Category:

Aging Gracefully, Bible Lessons, blessings, children, Family, friendship, health, Life's Challenges, Living in Christ's Family, Love, mental health, relationships, self-acceptance, Serving One Another

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Montana Poet Laureate

Today I received an invitation to attend: Chris La Tray, Montana Poet Laureate AT THE ELLING HOUSE, VIRGINIA CITY, MT
APRIL 27, 7-9PM
Chris La Tray, Poet, Storyteller

My friend, Ann White, sent me this description of our state’s poet laureate along with an invitation to attend. I am excited about going. Reading this blurb about LaTray inspired the poet in me… read on:

La Tray is a Métis storyteller and an enrolled member of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians. He is the author of One-Sentence Journal: Short Poems and Essays from the World at Large. His next book, Becoming Little Shell will be published by Milkweed Editions in 2024.

Chris La Tray approaches the practice of poetry the same as he does the spiritual life of an Anishinaabe person: which is to say, if one lives an Anishinaabe life, with particular attention to the seven guiding principles of the Seven Grandfather teachings – Humility, Courage, Honesty, Wisdom, Truth, Respect, and Love – then every footstep becomes a prayer. Similarly, if one approaches poetry in a similar fashion, recognizing that everything that happens may be viewed as a poem, and that every moment in life is an experience best paid constant and careful attention to, then every footstep becomes a poem. Whether as words on a page or shared orally, poetry becomes another means for telling and sharing stories; La Tray’s programs exist to remind people that their stories matter, that they are the only ones who can properly tell them, and that poetry, however it is defined, is a beautiful means for doing so.

Photo by Andreas Wohlfahrt on Pexels.com

I was so inspired by “… every footstep becomes a poem…” that I contemplated those feet that created those footsteps and remembered my small feet and their paths when I was a child. I decided to try my hand at a poem before going tonight to be inspired by Chris La Tray. What do you think?

Visiting Life’s Back Corners

I see vividly our home
White with green trim
A raised tulip bed
All tucked at the end of
Fig Lane in Newman, California.

Clear in my rear view mirror
Are my walks to kindergarten
With my older sister, Sally
And my afternoons
With “Aunt Artie” in town.

I hear her animated voice
Reading to me – and then
Walking me to the library
To select a few books
Of my own to read to her.

I see our move from town
To the house next to Grandma’s
And feel my spine prickle
As I run through the yard
Chased by a riotous TomTurkey.

I taste the delicious fennel
A treat we called “sweet anise”
And feel the warm sun on my back
As Sally and I sit on the porch
Waiting for Mom to come.

In the back corner of my mind
I remember Billy coming.
A troublesome cousin whose parents
Were getting a divorce.
And I cringe at his destruction.

Laden with my meager belongings
I sense the distress of another move
Far out in God-forsaken smelly country
Away from Grandma and first grade friends
A long walk and an hour’s bus ride to a new school.

I see vividly Crows Landing Elementary School
And remember the important lessons learned
Mrs. Yetter, Ms. Horwedle, Mr & Mrs Marlow
Excellent teachers who validated and inspired me
Living still in the back corners of my mind.

Visiting life’s back corners
Congers up warm and happy memories
Of an idyllic Ozzie & Harriet childhood
Any troubles fade into a hazy blur
As every footstep becomes a poem.

See ya tomorrow
after I experience Chris La Tray.

Sure wish you could join me
as our footsteps to
Virginia City’s Elling House
become a new and vibrant poem.
God Bless You, Ann, for inviting me!

Love,
JanBeek

Ah, sweet memories
Of me with my daddy
in that smelly back country home.
I’ll write about that another day…

Category:

blessings, children, Family, friendship, learning, Love, Memories, Montana, Poetry, relationships, writing

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Fun with Family

We had fun with family last weekend.
We celebrated our great-granddaughter,
Charlotte’s first birthday
with an outing to the Olive Garden
in Bozeman, Montana.

What a cutiepie, huh?

Her brother, Xander (almost seven)
and her sister, Sienna (4)
received stuffed animals
as special gifts from my friend, Ted.
So kind of him! The kids loved ’em!!

Xander enjoyed sharing Charlotte’s new books with her.

The children’s mom (our granddaughter, Hope)
and Pam (the kids’ paternal grandmother)
made it possible for us all to be together.
We’re so grateful!

1 Timothy 5:8

“But if anyone does not provide for his relatives,
and especially for members of his household,
he has denied the faith
and is worse than an unbeliever.”

Oh my! What an important scripture, huh?
The operative word is “provide.”
There are many ways to do so…
and having fun with them
on special occasions
is definitely one of them!


Tell me about fun you have had with family recently!

Fun to look back at
Fun with Family!

I’m sending my Love to you today.
I pray you have an opportunity today
(or soon)
to have
FUN WITH FAMILY!

With hugs,
JanBeek

Category:

blessings, children, Family, food, friendship, Gratitude, happiness, Living in Harmony, Love, prayer, relationships

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Happiness

What are 5 everyday things that bring you happiness?

It’s not THINGS that bring me happiness. It is people and our new furry friend, Owen. Here are five of my many:

Owen, our vivacious new puppy

Bob, my life-long partner and joy-maker

DeDe, our precious daughter, who lives in Switzerland, and with whom I communicate daily

Tyroneeee, our wonderful son, with one of our great-grandchildren (sweet Mable Iris).

Laina with Pat

Our daughter#2 Laina, and our daily communication via WhatsApp bring such happiness!

Friends are the flowers in our garden of life. I can’t stop with five sources of happiness!
Jim & Terry – chosen family!

Oh, I could go on… friends bring such happiness. It is their love and sincerity that makes my heart swell.

I hope you are blessed with the joy of people who bring you happiness, too.

Cheers!

Love, love & laugh!

Hugs,
JanBeek

Category:

blessings, children, Family, friendship, Gratitude, happiness, Love, pets, relationships, Serving One Another

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April 1st – A Day to Choose

Choose wisely! Don’t let yourself be fooled!

Today is a special day in our family. My great-granddaughter, Mable, turns a big TWO today. She is the child of our chosen granddaughter, Faith. What a blessed day it was when she, as a newborn, was gifted into our Beekman family!!

Mable is such a love!!!
BUT, don’t be fooled, Mable.
Those blocks are not for eating!!

Also in the picture below is my “chosen” granddaughter, Kayla. Her 28th birthday is today. Mable and Kayla were born on this special day to be conduits of God’s love!

I am with our daughter #2, Laina, and her daughter, Kayla. Don’t be fooled… that was several years ago! But, hey… aren’t we a happy trio? Laina and Kayla (and her sister Katy) are dear ones we have chosen to be part of our family. We are so blessed by them!

Do you have “chosen ones” who have added love and joy to your family?

Do you know that YOU are a chosen one, too?

light person red art
Photo by Marek Piwnicki on Pexels.com


In her message today, “Corine @ Therapy For Christians” cwilliams@therapyforchristians.com had this message for us about the idea of being “chosen”:

“…as you navigate the complexities of life, know that you are not merely a recipient of grace but also a conduit of it to those around you, you are called to bear fruit – fruit that will last. Just as God’s grace has chosen you, you are empowered to extend that same grace to others. 

This week, contemplate on practical ways to become vessels of God’s love and grace. Choose to share His grace through acts of kindness, words of encouragement, or simply being present for someone in need. In doing so, you actively participate in God’s redemptive plan, becoming a tangible reflection of His love in a world that often hungers for acceptance and understanding.

Allow His grace to permeate every aspect of your being, guiding you toward a life that bears fruit and brings glory to His name. Trust in His sovereign plan for your life, knowing that you are chosen, loved, and appointed to walk in His purpose. And remember, growth in any area of life, starts with growth in Him…”

So, on this April Fool’s Day, be careful what and who you choose. Be mindful! Don’t be fooled!

John 15:16 KJV
“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”

We are chosen! Hallelujah! Now let’s go out and spread the love!!

Happy April 1st!
It’s a day for choosing.
Choose love, not pranks!
God Bless You!

Love,
JanBeek

Category:

Belief, Bible Lessons, blessings, children, Faith, Family, God, Gratitude, Living in Christ's Family, Living in Harmony, Love, peace, relationships

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Middle Names

Daily writing prompt
What is your middle name? Does it carry any special meaning/significance?
View all responses

My middle name is Laura.
I was named after one of my dad’s sisters (Aunt Laura).
Twenty-one years later,
it ended up being the name
of my mother-in-law
(Laura Belle).
And eight years later,
we named our daughter DeAna Laura.

The name Laura is the feminized form of laurus, Latin for “bay laurel plant”, which in the Greco-Roman era was used as a symbol of victory, honor or fame. The name represents the embodiment of victory and strength.

In British North America, the name Laura reached 17th most popular in 1880 and 1882, but dropped to #43 in 1899. It was among the top 50 names for female newborns for much of the early 20th century in the United States, but dropped to No. 100–120 between 1930 and 1950; reached No. 10 in 1969, and has since steadily decreased in popularity.

In Europe, Laura remains popular.
In 2009 it ranked within the top 10
in Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia,
Greenland, Luxembourg, Spain, and Switzerland.

(Isn’t that interesting, given the fact that
DeAna Laura now lives in Switzerland?)

Here is my mother-in-law, Laura Belle
with our daughter, DeAna Laura.
(That was almost 50 years ago!)
Two very precious ladies
of victory and strength!

What is your middle name?
And what significance does it have?

Cheers to you
from Janet Laura & DeAna Laura

Category:

children, Family, Love, relationships, Sharing

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